Windows XP Startup Problem

[Echy]

Hello

I have a serious problem with a computer running Windows XP Home. The
computer is

It longer boots up properly and is stuck in a loop, continually
rebooting and in the process stopping at various times and displaying
various error messages. I cannot get to a command prompt.

The error messages include:-

- Stop errors 0x000000ED and 0x0000007B

- UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

- a disk read error occurred.

- a file is missing, please reinstall a copy (not exact quote) ...
system32\hal.dll

I have tried putting the original Windows installation CD in the CD
drive ( I have no HP recovery disks or anything similar) , the green
light goes on, then the amber light comes on and stays on and then I
get the error "a disk read error occurred Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to
restart".On restarting I either get the "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME"
error or only get to the black & white screen with options, Safe Mode,
Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known
Good Configuration & Start Windows Normally.

Selecting all of these one-by-one only get me back to the Windows XP
Home Edition splash screen followed by a reboot and back to the black
& white screen with the above options.

I am hoping (& hoping) that someone may be able to give me a lead on
what I should try next. Thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Echy]

Hello

I have a serious problem with a computer running Windows XP Home. The
computer is

It longer boots up properly and is stuck in a loop, continually
rebooting and in the process stopping at various times and displaying
various error messages. I cannot get to a command prompt.

The error messages include:-

- Stop errors 0x000000ED and 0x0000007B

- UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

- a disk read error occurred.

- a file is missing, please reinstall a copy (not exact quote) ...
system32\hal.dll

I have tried putting the original Windows installation CD in the CD
drive ( I have no HP recovery disks or anything similar) , the green
light goes on, then the amber light comes on and stays on and then I get
the error "a disk read error occurred Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart".On
restarting I either get the "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error or only get
to the black & white screen with options, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with
Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known Good Configuration
& Start Windows Normally.

Selecting all of these one-by-one only get me back to the Windows XP
Home Edition splash screen followed by a reboot and back to the black &
white screen with the above options.

I am hoping (& hoping) that someone may be able to give me a lead on
what I should try next. Thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

Just managed to get into "Setup" & changed boot order to make CD drive
the first. Still does not read any disk in that drive & goes straight
to the B &W screen with the choices shown above.

Echy

 

[Echy]

Hello

I have a serious problem with a computer running Windows XP Home. The
computer is

It longer boots up properly and is stuck in a loop, continually
rebooting and in the process stopping at various times and displaying
various error messages. I cannot get to a command prompt.

The error messages include:-

- Stop errors 0x000000ED and 0x0000007B

- UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

- a disk read error occurred.

- a file is missing, please reinstall a copy (not exact quote) ...
system32\hal.dll

I have tried putting the original Windows installation CD in the CD
drive ( I have no HP recovery disks or anything similar) , the green
light goes on, then the amber light comes on and stays on and then I get
the error "a disk read error occurred Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart".On
restarting I either get the "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error or only get
to the black & white screen with options, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with
Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known Good Configuration
& Start Windows Normally.

Selecting all of these one-by-one only get me back to the Windows XP
Home Edition splash screen followed by a reboot and back to the black &
white screen with the above options.

I am hoping (& hoping) that someone may be able to give me a lead on
what I should try next. Thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

Some Extra Points:-

1. The missing words following " The computer is" are ... an HP
Pavilion 522a, Win XP Home, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD with plenty of space.

2. Just managed to get into "Setup" & changed boot order to make CD
drive the first. Still does not read any disk in that drive & goes
straight to the B &W screen with the choices shown above.

3. How can I copy the missing hal.dll onto the computer given that the
CD drive seems to have died? I do have a floppy drive that works.

Echy

 

[Ron Martell]

Hello

I have a serious problem with a computer running Windows XP Home. The
computer is

It longer boots up properly and is stuck in a loop, continually
rebooting and in the process stopping at various times and displaying
various error messages. I cannot get to a command prompt.

The error messages include:-

- Stop errors 0x000000ED and 0x0000007B

- UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

- a disk read error occurred.

- a file is missing, please reinstall a copy (not exact quote) ...
system32\hal.dll

I have tried putting the original Windows installation CD in the CD
drive ( I have no HP recovery disks or anything similar) , the green
light goes on, then the amber light comes on and stays on and then I
get the error "a disk read error occurred Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to
restart".On restarting I either get the "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME"
error or only get to the black & white screen with options, Safe Mode,
Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known
Good Configuration & Start Windows Normally.

Selecting all of these one-by-one only get me back to the Windows XP
Home Edition splash screen followed by a reboot and back to the black
& white screen with the above options.

I am hoping (& hoping) that someone may be able to give me a lead on
what I should try next. Thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

I suspect that you may have a problem with the hard drive itself.

If you do not know the brand name of the hard drive then you may need
to open the computer case and check the label on the drive. Go to
the drive manufacturer's web site, download their free diagnostic
utility, and run that to check out the drive.

Your problem with booting from the CD indicates that either the CD may
be dirty or scratched; or the CD drive may also be having problems.
Try cleaning the surface of the CD with warm water and a soft
lint-free cloth and see if will boot okay then. Or look for another
bootable CD and see if the computer recognizes it.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Harry Ohrn]

This sounds like a possible hard drive problem. If you have a fast
connection and access to a CD burner you can download a copy of this
bootable CD http://www.reatogo.de/Reatogo_Downloads.htm

create the image following the instructions. Burn the iso to the CD using
software that can correctly burn an iso image (like Nero or Roxio or even
the excellent tiny stand alone Silentnight
http://www.webattack.com/get/silentnightcd.html

Boot with this CD and you have a nice Windows XP desktop. Go to the Start
button (top of screen) and select Programs->Command Prompt. At the command
prompt type "C:" (without the quote marks) to change to your C drive. Then
type chkdsk /r to see if you can repair the hard drive.

 

[Echy]

I suspect that you may have a problem with the hard drive itself.

If you do not know the brand name of the hard drive then you may need
to open the computer case and check the label on the drive. Go to
the drive manufacturer's web site, download their free diagnostic
utility, and run that to check out the drive.

Your problem with booting from the CD indicates that either the CD may
be dirty or scratched; or the CD drive may also be having problems.
Try cleaning the surface of the CD with warm water and a soft
lint-free cloth and see if will boot okay then. Or look for another
bootable CD and see if the computer recognizes it.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

Thanks for your reply.

Re: " ........... the CD drive may also be having problems ...."
.............I have borrowed the CD drive out of another computer &
still cannot access. Even though I changed the setup to boot from the
CD drive first - and that setting hasn't dropped out at all, the CD
drive is bypassed. I have tried bootable CD's that are booting fine in
another computer but it continues on to the floppy drive (which is
working) and then hard drive.

As a result I cannot get any further e.g. to check anything. I seem to
be really stuck here.

Any further help greatly appreciated.

Last minute thought - I guess it may be the BIOS - can I update that
from a floppy?

This is starting to drive me mad ( it's only a short drive! ) ;-(

Echy

 

[Echy]

This sounds like a possible hard drive problem. If you have a fast
connection and access to a CD burner you can download a copy of this
bootable CD http://www.reatogo.de/Reatogo_Downloads.htm

create the image following the instructions. Burn the iso to the CD using
software that can correctly burn an iso image (like Nero or Roxio or even
the excellent tiny stand alone Silentnight
http://www.webattack.com/get/silentnightcd.html

Boot with this CD and you have a nice Windows XP desktop. Go to the Start
button (top of screen) and select Programs->Command Prompt. At the command
prompt type "C:" (without the quote marks) to change to your C drive. Then
type chkdsk /r to see if you can repair the hard drive.

Thanks for your reply.

My problem - one of the problems - is that I cannot access the CD
drive. See reply to Ron in this thread.

As a result I cannot get any further e.g. to check anything. I seem to
be really stuck here.

Any further help greatly appreciated.

Echy

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks for your reply.

Re: " ........... the CD drive may also be having problems ...."
............I have borrowed the CD drive out of another computer &
still cannot access. Even though I changed the setup to boot from the
CD drive first - and that setting hasn't dropped out at all, the CD
drive is bypassed. I have tried bootable CD's that are booting fine in
another computer but it continues on to the floppy drive (which is
working) and then hard drive.

As a result I cannot get any further e.g. to check anything. I seem to
be really stuck here.

Any further help greatly appreciated.

Last minute thought - I guess it may be the BIOS - can I update that
from a floppy?

This is starting to drive me mad ( it's only a short drive! ) ;-(

Echy

The fact that you are having problems with both the hard drive and the
cdrom indicates that the actual problem may be with the motherboard
itself, such as a defect in the IDE controller chip, or possibly in
the printed circuit connections between the controller chip and the
IDE cable connectors.

One last thing to try.

Disconnect the hard drive completely - power and data. Put a bootable
CD into the drive and turn on the computer. What happens?

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Echy]

The fact that you are having problems with both the hard drive and the
cdrom indicates that the actual problem may be with the motherboard
itself, such as a defect in the IDE controller chip, or possibly in
the printed circuit connections between the controller chip and the
IDE cable connectors.

One last thing to try.

Disconnect the hard drive completely - power and data. Put a bootable
CD into the drive and turn on the computer. What happens?

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

Thank you very much for your further reply.

Disconnected the hard drive, put a bootable CD (MS XP Pro) in the
drive - and it booted!

Looking forward to next steps. Can I reconnected hard disk while the
computer is on or will I kill me or even worse kill the computer.

It is currently sitting at "Welcome to Setup" with the set up, repair
using recovery console, or quit.

Regards

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Thank you very much for your further reply.

Disconnected the hard drive, put a bootable CD (MS XP Pro) in the drive -
and it booted!

Looking forward to next steps. Can I reconnected hard disk while the
computer is on or will I kill me or even worse kill the computer.

It is currently sitting at "Welcome to Setup" with the set up, repair
using recovery console, or quit.

Regards

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

Do not disconnect or reconnect your hard drive or any other peripherals
while the system is running. You run the risk of seriously damaging your
motherboard. It sounds like your hard drive might be dead. Before running
out to get a new hard drive though see if a new IDE cable will help.

 

[Echy]

Do not disconnect or reconnect your hard drive or any other peripherals
while the system is running. You run the risk of seriously damaging your
motherboard. It sounds like your hard drive might be dead. Before running
out to get a new hard drive though see if a new IDE cable will help.

Thank you. I will try a new IDE cable.

Echy

 

[Echy]

Thank you. I will try a new IDE cable.

Echy

Sadly, a new cable did not help. Back to the original problem. Thanks
anyway.

Echy

 

[Echy]

Thank you very much for your further reply.

Disconnected the hard drive, put a bootable CD (MS XP Pro) in the drive
- and it booted!

Looking forward to next steps. Can I reconnected hard disk while the
computer is on or will I kill me or even worse kill the computer.

It is currently sitting at "Welcome to Setup" with the set up, repair
using recovery console, or quit.

Regards

Echy
Melbourne, Australia

Further to the above; given that I get this error message - " Windows
could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll " - does that mean the hard disk is
not totally dead? i.e. it is still readable?

Appreciate comments on this and the outcome of disconnecting the HDD
(above) when possible.

Thanks
Echy

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Echy' wrote:
| Sadly, a new cable did not help. Back to the original problem. Thanks
| anyway.
_____

First, your drive is operating at some level, else you would not be getting
the error messages.

1. Use google to search for the string { system32\hal.dll } ; you will
get lots of cites, some of which should be very helpful, once you wade
through the chaff.
2. What you very likely need to do is use the Windows XP repair console
from the installation CD and attempt to repair the Windows XP installation
(which is evidently corrupted.) I am assuming that Windows XP Home HAS a
repair console as Windows XP PRO does.


Some basic checks for your hard drive should the repair console not help:

1. Remove the hard drive from the system case, then replug the
connectors, supporting the drive on an insulator (like a yellow legal pad.)
Start the system and listen closely for noises from the drive (you should
hear a low whine and a few clicks.) Then tilt the front of the drive up and
down a few degrees. If the drive is spinning, you should feel a resisting
force at right angles to the tilt. If not, the drive is dead.

2. Physically install your current hard drive as an additional hard
drive in a known good system (RUNNING PROPER VIRUS PROTECTION.) Try to
access your drive. If you can, the safest next step is to back up ALL of
your data. THEN use the 'Error-checking' option in the properties sheet for
your drive (check the 'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors' box.)
If the scan finds any bad sectors, you should get a replacement and save as
much of the system and disk contents as possible. If you can NOT access the
drive, well, lots and lots of money (hundreds or thousands of US dollars)
can help with that problem.

[by the way, it is a good idea to trim most of the previous messages when
you reply to a post]

Phil Weldon

| Echy wrote:
| > Harry Ohrn wrote:
| >> | >>> Ron Martell wrote:
..
..
..
..

| >> Do not disconnect or reconnect your hard drive or any other
| >> peripherals while the system is running. You run the risk of seriously
| >> damaging your motherboard. It sounds like your hard drive might be
| >> dead. Before running out to get a new hard drive though see if a new
| >> IDE cable will help.
| >>
| >
| > Thank you. I will try a new IDE cable.
| >
| > Echy
|
| Sadly, a new cable did not help. Back to the original problem. Thanks
| anyway.
|
| Echy